398 INSECTS. 



The male is a small and rather slender dipterous fly, about the 

 size of a flea, with joined antennae and large white wings in pro- 

 portion to the body, which is of a red colour, with two long fila- 

 ments proceeding from the tail. It is an active and lively animal, 

 and is dispersed in small numbers among the females, in the pro- 

 portion, according to Mr. Ellis, in the Philosophical Transactions, of 

 about one male to a hundred and fifty, or even two hundred females. 

 When the female insect has discharged all its eggs, it becomes a 

 mere husk, and dies ; so that great care is taken to kill the insects 

 before that time, to prevent the young from escaping, and thus dis- 

 appointing the proprietor of the beautiful colour. The insects 

 when picked or brushed off the plants, are said to be first killed 

 either by the fumes of heated vinegar, or by smoke, and then 

 dried, in which state they are imported into Europe ; and it is said 

 that the Spanish government is annually more enriched by the pro- 

 fit of the cochineal trade than by the produce of all its gold mines. 



It may perhaps be almost unnecessary to add, that, exclusive of 

 the general or large scale in which cochineal is used by the dyers, 

 the fine colour so much esteemed in painting, and known by the 

 name of carmine, is no other than a preparation from the same 

 substance, and is unquestionably the most beautiful of all the pic- 

 torial reds. It is also used, when properly mixed with hair-pow- 

 der, powdered talc, &c. in that innocent cosmetic, so much used 

 by the ladies, and popularly known by the French term rouge. 



2. Kermes, or Scarlet-dye Insect, 

 Coccus ilicis. Linn. 



The female of this species adheres in its advanced or pregnant 

 state to the shoots of the quercus coccifera (Ilex aculeata cocei- 

 glandifera. C. Bauh. pin.), under the fornr of smooth reddish-brown 

 or blackish powdery grains or balls, of the size of small peas. The 

 tree or shrub grows plentifully in many parts of France, Spain, 

 Greece, and the islands of the Archipelago. The cocci are found 

 adhering in groupes of five, six, or more together, or pretty near 

 each other. They are gathered for the purpose of commerce by 

 the country people. 



Before the discovery of America, the coccus ilicis or kermes, 

 as it was then termed, was the most valuable substance for dyeing 



